Why I Can't Afford Cheap | February 9, 2009

I remember reading a story once about an octogenarian discussing her most prized possessions with a researcher. She shows the researcher an iron that’s been going for over 40 years and explains how she had to scrimp and save to buy the product and how it ended up out living even her husband. Quizzed on why she spent so much money on the iron she said “I’m too poor to buy cheap!”

Too poor to buy cheap. That simple phase really resonated with me and has stuck with me ever since.

Cheap is quick. Cheap is dirty. Cheap is disposable.

Cheap breaks.

Cheap costs money. It costs money to fix, it costs money to replace.

Cheap seems like a good idea at the time but cheap fails when you most need it.

Cheap is flimsy and unsatisfying.

Cheap is inefficient.

Cheap gets in your way.

Cheap costs you time and it costs you customers.

Cheap always cost you more in the end. That’s why I can’t afford to buy cheap. Can you?

Comments

An employer of mine used to say that he’d rather buy something expensive and once than buy cheap and several. When I first heard him say it I thought it was a snobbish, elitist attitude, however I find myself adopting the same attitude now.

The cheap items I buy always tend to break just out of warranty or when I need them most, whilst the more expensive items last longer and can be relied upon, though expensive doesn’t always mean quality.

Ollie said on February 10, 2009 8:21 AM

What about buying a good thing which is a little out of date or second hand but in good condition :D or maybe something produced on a large scale reducing the overall costs. Somehow I always look for these options when not found I go buy something not cheap then :)

To add to those above me: since price is so inconsistently tied to quality and instead often indicates only which logo graces the product’s upper right corner…let’s say exactly what we mean and say “shoddy,” not cheap. We can’t afford to buy low-quality,is the less poetic translation of what you’re saying.

Really though, there is a formula here that should be considered before hand… Take computers for example:

What would you rather have: a new $500 modern PC, or a bleeding edge PC that costs 2000. Both have 3 year warranty.

The cheaper computer will probably break right at year 3. It won’t be as fast, but, on year 3, you can buy one that will probably be faster than 2k one was, for another $500. You end up saving 1k, and getting better hardware at the end of the 3 years. (So you almost get 12 years worth of computer for the price of 1 bleeding edge PC).

So going the cheaper route isn’t always the wrong thing… It’s making quick decisions about purchases without doing the research first that will get you in trouble.

For 50 years at Vitsoe we have made furniture designed by Dieter Rams.

Frequently we have included - in print - the quote, “I am not rich enough to buy cheaply” because it says everything about why our customers keep coming back to us.

We design and make for the long term. Wherever possible, we sell directly to our customers so that we deliver the highest quality for the best possible price. Initially we do not look cheap but very quickly our customers tell us what great value we are.

I’ve tried buying “quality” more than once and got bitten every time. Coffee machine jug breaks, as glass does when dropped. Lots of hassle and expense. Now I buy the cheapest. I’ve never had any problems and when I drop the next jug I get a new one cheaply and hassle-free. Expensive “quality” crockery, firm gone bust, no more replacements ever. Bought cheaply I don’t mind and who cares, cheap does the job just as well. Got an expensive quality angle grinder. Mate got five cheap ones, different tool in each, no changing tools, no hassle, great for work flow, built-in backup. Now I emulate him. Expensive all too often is flashy junk.
BUT: When getting quotes for the house I usually choose the highest one. Good workmanship really does save in the long run and of course another roof leak is not just the new repair but the hassle and all the ruined stuff inside. Same for shock absorbers. Lots of hassle to change. Konis are not cheap but I’ve seen them retain their full efficiency for 200 000 km. Same for tires and brake pads. With stuff that’s invisible and you can’t impress the neighbours with, you’re usually not cheated by the quality vendors, with clothes and other status gagetry you usually are.

You get what you pay for I suppose. And the whole concept of ‘cheap’ should not only refer to ‘immediate out of pocket costs’ but to overall cost in the long run.
So no: I cannot afford to go cheap.

Adrian Turner said on February 25, 2009 3:59 PM

No I can’t afford chearp. Thanks!

About the author

User Experience Designer and CEO of Clearleft, Andy is the author of CSS Mastery, curates the dConstruct and UX London events and is responsible for Silverbackapp, a low cost usability testing application for the Mac. Andy is a regular speaker at international conferences and was named one of the 100 most influential people in the UK digital sector by Wired Magazine.